Will Linus Ullmark Lead the Ottawa Senators Back to the Playoffs?

by Team Del Genio

Wednesday, Oct 30, 2024

The Ottawa Senators finished last season with a 37-41-4 record and outside the NHL postseason for the sixth straight season. Early injuries derailed that team. Under new ownership, management, a rookie head coach, and a possible new arena, the Senators are looking to turn the page and enter a new era. With a young core group of players led by Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, and Drake Batherson, there is reason for optimism for this club. After acquiring a former Vezina Trophy winner goaltender when they traded for Linus Ullmark, the Senators may have the reliable top-flight goaltender they need to get back to the playoffs.  Ottawa returned home for the first time since October 19th on Tuesday after completing a three-game road trip with a 5-4 loss at Colorado on Sunday. The Senators had won five straight games at home after playing three or more in a row on the road, so their prospects were encouraging when hosting the St. Louis Blues. Ottawa had won seven of their last ten games at home after losing on the road in their previous game. With eight points coming from a 4-4-0 record, Ottawa was in last place in the Atlantic Division going into that game, yet their eight games played are the lowest of their division rivals. They had a 3-1 record at home where they are scoring 4.3 goals per game. First-year head coach Travis Greene turned to Linus Ullmark will get the start at goalie tonight. The former Boston Bruins goaltender had a 1-2 record this season with a 3.35 goals-against average and a .885 save percentage. Only one of his starts have been at home this year when he led the Senators to a 3-1 victory against Florida on October 10th. He stopped 31 of the 32 shots he faced in that game. Ullmark posted a 2.57 goals against average and a .915 save percentage last season. In his nineteen starts at home for the Bruins last season, he had an 11-3-5 record with a 2.45 goals against average and a .915 save percentage. Ottawa is establishing a nice home-ice advantage as they had won fifteen of their last twenty-three games at home when the oddsmakers installed them as the favorite. The Senators made an early statement in that game by scoring three goals in the first period. They scored another three unanswered goals in the second period and cruised to an 8-1 victory against the Blues. Ullmark was once again outstanding in front of his new home fans as he stopped 26 of the 27 shots he faced. Tkachuk scored two goals with the man advantage in that game. The Senators rank second in the NHL with their power play that is converting at a 42.9% rate. They have scored 12 goals from their 28 power play opportunities. Ottawa is averaging 4.2 goals per game which ranks third in the league. If they can continue to approach that level of offensive production while getting good goaltending from Ullmark, then Ottawa will be very much alive to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Yet they need to stay healthy and avoid the injury bug they experienced last season. Good luck - TDG.

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MACtion Arrives: MAC Contenders

by Nelly's Sports

Wednesday, Oct 30, 2024

There are only two MAC games this Saturday in the first weekend of November because a great college football tradition will resume next week with weeknight MAC football, affectionately known as MACtion. The next four weeks through November will be filled with Tuesday and Wednesday games in the MAC ahead of the MAC Championship December 7 in Detroit. Here is a breakdown of the current MAC contenders. Western Michigan Broncos 5-3 overall 4-0 MAC Western Michigan has allowed 32 points per game in MAC play, but the Broncos are the only 4-0 team in the conference. Western Michigan was a popular play-on team in MAC futures over the summer and veteran quarterback Hayden Wolff has done his part completing nearly 69 percent of his passes with 15 touchdown throws. Western Michigan has also posted 5.0 yards per rush this season, including 6.6 yards per rush over the past three games. This is not a trustworthy defense however and the 4-0 start has come while facing some of the expected worst teams in the conference. Western Michigan will be in MACtion in the next three weeks before a Saturday finale with rival Eastern Michigan to close the regular season. The upcoming home game with Northern Illinois and the November 12 game at Bowling Green will have a significant impact in the race. Miami OH Redhawks 4-4 overall 3-1 MAC Miami won the MAC title last season and has recovered from a 1-4 start this season to reach 4-4 with three straight MAC wins since losing the opener at Toledo. The non-conference schedule was difficult, losing reasonably competitive games with Northwestern, Cincinnati, and Notre Dame. The current run features a 30-20 head-to-head win over Ohio which could prove to be an important tiebreaker. Last week Miami won 46-7 over Central Michigan and the next two games are against Ball State and Kent State, two of the lesser teams in the conference. Miami is led by veteran quarterback Brett Gabbert in his sixth season with the team, though his numbers have not been quite as strong as last season. Miami is currently the #2 scoring defense in the conference allowing just under 18 points per game and the Redhawks have the edge in most power ratings as the top team in the conference.  Ohio Bobcats 5-3 overall 3-1 MAC Ohio picked up a 47-16 win over Buffalo last week to stay in the MAC race, bouncing back from a head-to-head loss at Miami. The remaining schedule for Ohio is favorable with Kent State, Eastern Michigan, Toledo, and Ball State remaining, but the Toledo game will be on the road where Ohio is 1-3 overall this season with the only win by two points at Central Michigan. Quarterback Parker Navarro doesn’t have great numbers but is the #4 MAC quarterback in QB Rating, ahead of Brett Gabbert and Ethan Hampton. Anthony Tyus is the second leading rusher in the MAC as Ohio is a top 15 team nationally in yards per carry, averaging 5.5 yards per rush, while only allowing 3.9 yards per rush for appealing numbers in the ground game. The Bobcats have a balanced team that could find their way to the title game. Bowling Green Falcons 4-4 overall 3-1 MAC The Falcons took on a tough non-conference schedule starting 1-3 but the losses were all one-score games including at Penn State and at Texas A&M. Bowling Green won at Toledo with 41 points in its last MAC game but did lose to Northern Illinois in October at home. The Falcons offense that has been productive managed just seven points and 205 yards in that game, though they still led at the start of the 4th quarter. The win over Toledo featured the Falcons being outgained while adding late scoring for a more convincing final than the game deserved. Connor Bazelak has been one of the better quarterbacks in the conference, but Bowling Green has featured an inconsistent defense. In the past three games the Falcons have allowed just 4.4 yards per play for excellent recent results. The remaining schedule is likely the toughest among the contenders however as the Falcons have games with both Western Michigan and Miami OH remaining. Both games are at home however and the Falcons will be in the MACtion spotlight the next two Tuesdays.  Toledo Rockets 5-3 overall 2-2 MAC The typical favorite in the MAC Toledo must still be included on this list at 2-2 as they do have a win over Miami. The remaining schedule is favorable for the Rockets and the toughest game left will be at home hosting Ohio November 20. Tucker Gleason has good numbers at quarterback even with some interceptions while backup John Alan Richter led the team to the win at Northern Illinois. A big difference this season for Toledo has been the decline of the rushing attack, down from 5.3 yards per carry and 199 yards per game last season to just 3.1 yards per carry and just 105 yards per game rushing this season. Toledo still has a capable defense allowing only 4.9 yards per play overall, third best in the MAC. This hasn’t looked like one of Jason Candle’s better teams, but the Rockets are still likely to be favored in every remaining game as reaching 6-2 with a title path is possible. 

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MACtion Arrives: MAC Spoilers

by Nelly's Sports

Wednesday, Oct 30, 2024

There are only two MAC games this Saturday in the first weekend of November because a great college football tradition will resume next week with weeknight MAC football, affectionately known as MACtion. The next four weeks through November will be filled with Tuesday and Wednesday games in the MAC ahead of the MAC Championship December 7 in Detroit. Here is a breakdown of a few teams that could star in these showcase opportunities with upset threats and entertaining play despite likely not being in contention in the MAC title race.  Northern Illinois Huskies 4-4 overall 1-3 MAC The Huskies have the top scoring defense in the MAC allowing just 17 points per game, but Northern Illinois has only one MAC win. Allowing just 4.3 yards per play the Huskies rank in the top 10 nationally in yards per play defense and have by far the best defensive numbers in the MAC. Northern Illinois has the big win at Notre Dame from early September on its resume but also has losses to Buffalo and Ball State in MAC play. After beating Bowling Green and losing a close low-scoring game with Toledo, the Huskies lost 25-23 at Ball State in a game where Northern Illinois had a 4-0 turnover deficit. Ethan Hampton led the win over the Irish but has ceded time to Josh Holst in recent weeks with Hampton missing the Toledo game and both playing last week. Holst is a better rushing presence for a solid Huskies ground attack. The Huskies have a big MACtion opportunity November 6 as they play at Western Michigan in a great top offense vs. top defense pairing. The Huskies also play at Miami in MACtion November 19 as while a MAC title is likely out of the picture, NIU could play a role in determining who gets to Detroit. Buffalo Bulls 4-4 overall 2-2 MAC Not much was expected out of the Bulls this season, but Buffalo has played four of the best teams in the MAC so far and is 2-2, beating Northern Illinois and Toledo and giving MAC leader Western Michigan a great scare in a comeback attempt in late October. In the most recent game, the Bulls were blown out at Ohio, but two defensive scores against the Bulls contributed to the lopsided final. Buffalo had 383 yards despite only 16 points in that game as this is a team that can move the ball. Quarterback C.J. Ogbonna has taken a lot of sacks but has only two interceptions while Buffalo has averaged nearly 200 rushing yards per game in the past three games, well over the season average of just 142 yards per game. The Bulls seem like a long shot to climb into the MAC race, but the remaining schedule is favorable playing Akron, Ball State, Eastern Michigan, and Kent State as this is a team capable of finishing strong to earn a surprise bowl bid.  Eastern Michigan Eagles 5-3 overall 2-2 MAC Losing last week at Akron kills any chance of making a championship run for the Eagles at 2-2 with a very difficult remaining MAC schedule. Eastern Michigan is a tough matchup as one of the fastest tempo teams in the nation however and the Eagles are capable of an upset down the stretch to shake-up the conference race. Eastern Michigan needs one more win to be bowl eligible, though the best wins of the season came vs. Jacksonville State and Central Michigan. The Eagles have made six bowl games in the past eight years for an impressive showing from Chris Creighton, who inherited a program in shambles. Cole Snyder has thrown for over 1,800 yards as the most prolific passer in the conference and he has had back-to-back 300 yard passing games and has just two interceptions this season in 272 attempts. The Eagles are one of the worst defensive teams in the conference and the nation, including allowing 7.2 yards per play the past three games, but winning an exciting shootout in MAC play at some point in November seems like a strong possibility for this group.  Ball State Cardinals 3-5 overall 2-2 MAC Ball State looked like one of the worst teams in the nation in September, getting an opening FCS win over Missouri State in dramatic fashion and then taking blowout non-conference losses to Miami and James Madison by a combined score of 125-7, surrounding a MAC opening loss at Central Michigan. Ball State’s MAC games have all been decided by three or fewer points and while the Cardinals are likely to be an underdog in every remaining game, this is a team playing better than the season valuation. Ball State lost by only 10 at Vanderbilt a few weeks ago and last week upset Northern Illinois, putting up 25 points and 392 yards on the top MAC defense. A bowl game is a long shot for the Cardinals with a difficult remaining schedule, but freshman quarterback Kadin Semonza has shown significant improvement and has no interceptions in his last three games. Ball State will be in the Tuesday spotlight for the next two weeks and could be an intriguing play-on team moving forward. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB, and NCAAF Previews and Odds - 10/30/2024

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Oct 30, 2024

The Wednesday sports card features NCAAF, MLB, NBA, and NHL action.Week 10 in NCAAF college football continues with two games between FBS opponents. Liberty hosts Jacksonville State on the CBS Sports Network at 7:00 p.m. ET. The Flames’ five-game winning streak to start the season ended last Wednesday in a 27-24 upset loss at Kennesaw State as a 26.5-point favorite. The Gamecocks are on a four-game winning streak after their 42-20 victory against Middle Tennessee as a 20.5-point favorite on Wednesday. Liberty is a 2-point favorite with the total set at 63 (all odds from DraftKings). Western Kentucky plays at home against Kennesaw State on ESPN2 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Hilltoppers won for the fifth time in their last six games with their 31-14 upset victory at Sam Houston as a 1-point underdog back on October 16th. The Owls ended their six-game losing streak to begin the season with their upset win against Liberty last week. Western Kentucky is a 24-point favorite with an over/under of 49.Major League Baseball continues the best-of-seven World Series with the New York Yankees playing at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Fox at 8:08 p.m. ET. The Yankees kept their season alive last night with their 11-4 victory in Game 4. The Dodgers have a 3-1 series lead. New York taps Gerrit Cole to pitch against Los Angeles’ Jack Flaherty. The Yankees are a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The National Basketball Association has 11 games on its docket. Five NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Philadelphia 76ers are home against the Detroit Pistons as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 216.5. The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Los Angeles Lakers as a 5-point favorite with a total of 223. The Charlotte Hornets play at home against the Toronto Raptors as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 223. The Boston Celtics travel to Indiana to play the Pacers on ESPN as a 7-point road favorite with a total of 233.5. The Atlanta Hawks play in Washington against the Wizards as a 4-point road favorite with an over/under of 234.5. The New York Knicks are in Miami to play the Heat at 7:40 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 214.5. Two more NBA games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Orlando Magic visits Chicago to play the Bulls as a 6-point road favorite with an over/under of 228. The Memphis Grizzlies are home against the Brooklyn Nets as a 12.5-point favorite with a total of 224.5. The Oklahoma City Thunder host the San Antonio Spurs on ESPN at 9:40 p.m. ET as a 13.5-point favorite with an over/under of 219.5. The Golden State Warriors host the New Orleans Pelicans at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 1-point favorite with a total of 219.5. The Los Angeles Clippers play at home against the Portland Trail Blazers at 10:40 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 213.5. The National Hockey League has six games on its slate. The New York Islanders play in Columbus against the Blue Jackets at 7:07 p.m. ET as a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Winnipeg Jets are in Detroit to play the Red Wings at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Colorado Avalanche are home against the Tampa Bay Lightning at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -118 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Utah Hockey Club hosts the Calgary Flames at 9:37 p.m. ET as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Vegas Golden Knights travel to Los Angeles to play the Kings on TNT at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -112 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Vancouver Canucks play at home against the New  Jersey Devils at 10:37 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. 

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News And Notes From A Betting Perspective

by AAA Sports

Tuesday, Oct 29, 2024

In the NFL ..  Did Jayden Daniels win the Rookie of the Year Award with one pass this past Sunday?Daniels’s game-winning heave on the last play not only jolted the odds and made him the -400 favorite in the ROY category, it moved the surprising Commanders into first place in the NFC East at 6-2 and shortened the team’s Super Bowl odds. Lots of cash changed hands when Daniels’s pass from the other side of the 50 was tipped and landed in the hands of Noah Brown in the end zone, enabling Washington to win 18-15 and cover the spread after entering the game a slight -1.5 favorite.But Daniels probably would not have been able to even reach the end zone on the last play if he had not completed a 13-yard pass on the previous play (yes, the Bears were in soft coverage, but still). Receiver Terry McLaurin got out of bounds with just two seconds left, allowing Daniels and the Commanders close enough for one final, successful, shot.Besides being the ROY front-runner, there is even talk about a possible ROY/MVP sweep if the Commanders can somehow keep the train rolling, win the division, and get a high seed in the playoffs. -- In the NBA ..  Speaking of winning two awards in the same season, Anthony Davis has to be on the early-season shortlist for both the Defensive Player of the Year AND MVP awards. Through four games Davis was averaging nearly 33 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and shooting 55 percent from the floor. He’s flat-out dominating defensively. Through it all the Lakers were off to a 3-1 start (ok, the schedule hasn’t been that demanding) and the NBA is salivating at TV ratings if LA remains relevant. Just a few games in, the returns are the equivalent of Dixville Notch, but no one is still questioning LeBron bringing on his buddy JJ Redick as HC of the LAL.---In Politics ..  The betting markets and mainstream polls continued to tell a different story as the presidential race entered its final week.Former President Donald Trump led in every major betting site, as high as -200 on BetOnline. There was not a lot of variation in Trump’s numbers. Vice President Kamala Harris was at +170 at the same site. Harris, however, had a 4 percentage point edge in the last major mainstream poll (Newsweek), while all the Battleground state polls showed the two neck and neck and within the margin of error.--In the WNBA ..  The champion New York Liberty are the favorites to repeat in the WNBA next season, at +175, after defeating the Minnesota Lynx (+350) in the finals. The  Las Vegas Aces, who lost to the Liberty in the playoff semifinals, are also at +350 as they face major roster decisions. The Connecticut Sun, who finally have taken a major step forward and now can hang with the top teams in the league, could have real value at +550. Caitlyn Clark’s presence in the WNBA this past season brought a boatload of more betting action in the league.

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NHL Off the Post: October 29th

by Sean Murphy

Tuesday, Oct 29, 2024

November is quickly approaching and the cream continues to rise to the top of the NHL standings. Here's a look at some news and notes from around the league.Singing the BluesRegression has come for the Blues following a hot start to the season. St. Louis has managed to post only two regulation time victories in its last seven games. Saturday's poor result in Montreal could be the wake-up call the Blues need as they continue their eastern road swing. They'll make a stop in Ottawa on Tuesday before wrapping up their jaunt in Philadelphia on Halloween Night. Goaltender Jordan Binnington is in the running for the starting job on Team Canada at the upcoming Four Nations Face Off but has struggled lately, allowing at least three goals in four of his last five games. Baby, it's a Wild worldMinnesota is quietly off to a 5-1-2 start to the campaign. Following Tuesday's stop in Pittsburgh, the Wild will open a three-game homestand against the Lightning on Friday. Regular season success is great but the jury is still out as to whether Minnesota can find a way to thrive in the postseason. There's a lot to like about what we've seen from the Wild so far this season, however, as they've produced 3.63 goals per game, good for ninth in the league. Not only that but they check in ranked fifth in the NHL in goals allowed per game. Shark baitWhen it comes to the debate over 'worst team in the league' the Sharks are the clubhouse leaders but they did manage to record their first victory of the season on Monday in Utah. Credit San Jose for not folding the tent in that contest as it fell behind 4-1 entering the third period but rallied for a 5-4 overtime win. There's a lot to be excited about as far as the future goes for this franchise but with first overall draft pick Macklin Celebrini sidelined due to injury and future number one goaltender Yaroslav Askarov toiling away in the minors, that future success feels like it's a long way off. San Jose opens a five-game homestand on Tuesday against in-state rival Los Angeles.Fanning the FlamesCalgary limps into Wednesday's stop in Utah on the heels of three straight losses. Following a surprisingly hot start to the campaign the Flames have fallen on hard times, particularly at the offensive end of the rink where they've scored only five goals during their current slide. They're currently tied for 16th in goals per game and 18th in goals allowed per contest. Needless to say, it's going to be an uphill battle contending in a top-heavy Pacific Division. Note that the Oilers, widely considered to be a Stanley Cup contender, still haven't gotten going and sit in sixth place in the Pacific. There are realistically six teams vying for the top three spots in the division this season.Rock you like a HurricaneCarolina just wrapped up an impressive 5-1 road trip with the lone loss coming in a tough back-to-back spot in St. Louis. Now the Hurricanes have a chance to really pad their record as they open a four-game homestand that will feature three divisional matchups. Note that Carolina will play just four games outside of the eastern time zone between now and the end of December. No team has given up fewer shots per game and the Canes rank third in the league in goals allowed per contest entering their Halloween Night showdown against the Bruins. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and NCAAF Previews and Odds - 10/29/2024

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Oct 29, 2024

The Tuesday sports card features NCAAF, MLB, NBA, and NHL action.Week 10 in NCAAF college football starts with three games between FBS opponents. Florida International hosts New Mexico State on the CBS Sports Network at 7:00 p.m. ET. The Golden Panthers lost for the fifth time in their last six games after their 10-7 loss at home against Sam Houston as a 5-point underdog last Tuesday. The Aggies ended a five-game losing streak with a 33-30 victory in overtime against Louisiana Tech as a 12-point underdog two Tuesdays ago. Florida International is a 9.5-point favorite with a total of 43.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Texas State plays at home against Louisiana-Lafayette on ESPN2 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Bobcats had won two games in a row before their 24-14 upset loss at Old Dominion as a 10.5-point favorite two Saturdays ago. The Ragin’ Cajuns are on a four-game winning streak after their 34-24 win at Coastal Carolina as a 6.5-point favorite on October 19th. Texas State is a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 58.5. Sam Houston is home against Louisiana Tech on ESPNU at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Bearkats won for the fifth time in their last six games with their victory against FIU last Tuesday. The Bulldogs won for the second time in their previous three games with their 14-10 win against UTEP as a 6.5-point favorite on Tuesday. Sam Houston is a 10-point favorite with a total of 45.5. Major League Baseball continues the best-of-seven World Series with the New York Yankees playing at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Fox at 8:08 p.m. ET. The Dodgers took a 3-0 series lead last night with their 4-2 victory on the road. The Yankees send out Luis Gil to face a Dodgers starting pitcher who has yet to be named in what will be a bullpen game. New York is a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5.The National Basketball Association has four games on its docket. Two NBA games tip off at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Timberwolves host the Dallas Mavericks on TNT as a 5-point favorite with a total of 223.5. The Denver Nuggets travel to Brooklyn to play the Nets as a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 218. The Sacramento Kings play in Utah to face the Jazz at 9:10 p.m. ET as a 6-point road favorite with a total of 235. The New Orleans Pelicans are in Golden State to play the Warriors on TNT at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 215.5. The National Hockey League has seven games on its slate. Five NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Wild visit Pittsburgh to play the Penguins as a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Seattle Kraken play in Montreal against the Canadiens as a -148 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The New York Islanders play at home against the Anaheim Ducks as a -245 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Boston Bruins are home against the Philadelphia Flyers as a -198 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Ottawa Senators host the St. Louis Blues as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The New Rangers are in Washington to play the Capitals on ESPN at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -148 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Los Angeles Kings travel to San Jose to play the Sharks on ESPN at 10:07 p.m. ET as a -265 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. 

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UFC Fight Night, Moreno vs. Albazi: Preview and Picks

by Will Rogers

Monday, Oct 28, 2024

UFC Fight Night Moreno vs. Albazi Saturday, Nov. 2ndRogers Place - EdmontonLast week's event, UFC 308 at Abu Dhabi, featured some high level and exciting fighters. The Main Event didn't disappoint as Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria became the first to defeat Max Holloway by KO. Topuria is absolutely one of the most well-rounded and best pound for pound fighters in the world. I personally really enjoyed the Magomedov/Petrosyan bout and not just because Magomedov's win brought me to 17-1 YTD with UFC sides. Magomedov, who is blind in one eye, got rocked early by Petrosyan, a former sparring partner. He weathered the storm and came back strong, ultimately landing just the 11th spinning backfist knockout in UFC history and remaining undefeated. This week, we head north. It will mark the 34th time that the UFC has been held in Canada, the fifth in Alberta and its third time in Edmonton. The Main Event The main event features Brandon Moreno (21-8-2) taking on Amir Albazi (17-1). Albazi has the more impressive record but Moreno is a -165 favorite. The over 4.5 rounds is priced at -210. So, this fight has a pretty good chance of going the full five rounds. "The Prince" Albazi hails from Iraq. His last fight was in June of 2023, a split decision victory over Kai Kara-France. (Moreno has beaten Kara-France twice.) That was his 6th straight win. Nine of his 17 victories have come via submission. Off back-to-back loses, Mexican fighter Brandon Moreno, the former flyweight champion, is anxious to get back on track. Having fought Deiveson Figueiredo four times and other opponents like Brandon Royval and Alexander Pantoja, twice each, Moreno has taken on much tougher opposition. The 4 fights versus Figueiredo absolutely added to Moreno's resume but they may have also taken a toll. Eleven of Moreno's 21 wins have come via submission. Each of his last 2 losses were by split decision. So, he's been very close. As a matter of fact, all 8 of Moreno's career losses have been by decision. He's never been stopped. The winner of this fight will hope to take on Pantoja for the belt. Prediction: In a fight that is expected to go five rounds, I like Moreno's chances of being ahead on the scorecards. He's been in many 5 round wars before. Albazi has only gone 5 rounds once, a split decision win over a fighter which Moreno previously KO'd. Go with Moreno.The Co Main Event In the co-main event, Erin Blanchfield (12-2) is a -135 favorite over former champion Rose Namajunas (13-6). Blanchfield had a 9-fight winning streak snapped last time out, losing to Manon Fiorot. Namajunas also previously lost a decision to Fiorot but has since responded with consecutive victories. Like the main event, this fight is expected to go the full five rounds. There is a price tag of -270 on the over 4.5 round option. Previously a strawweight, "Thug" Rose now fights at flyweight. Not only does she dream of being a two division champion but Namajunas says that the weight cuts are now a lot easier and that she is healthier as a result. Prediction: This was previously going to be the main event. Though it was shifted to the co-main event, it remained 5 rounds instead of 3. The same way that will give an edge to Moreno in the main event, it's going to favor Namajunas in this one. She's had many 5 round battles before, including 4 of her last 5. Blanchfield has only gone 5 rounds once and she lost. Go with Namajunas.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NHL, MLB, NBA and NFL Previews and Odds - 10/28/2024

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Oct 28, 2024

The Monday sports card features NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL action. Week 8 in the NFL concludes with one game. The Pittsburgh Steelers host the New York Giants on ABC and ESPN at 8:15 p.m. ET. The Steelers are on a two-game winning streak after their 37-15 upset victory as a 2.5-point underdog last Sunday. The Giants lost for the third time in their last four games with their 28-3 loss against Philadelphia as a 3-point underdog on Sunday. Pittsburgh is a 6-point favorite with the total set at 36.5.Major League Baseball continues the best-of-seven World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers playing at home against the New York Yankees on Fox at 8:08 p.m. ET. The Dodgers took a 2-0 lead in this series on Saturday with their 4-2 victory. The Yankees tap Clarke Schmidt to pitch against Los Angeles’ Walker Buehler. New York is a -148 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5.The National Basketball Association has 11 games on its docket. The Orlando Magic play at home against the Indiana Pacers at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 224. Five more NBA games tip off at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Boston Celtics are home against the Milwaukee Bucks as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 234. The New York Knicks host the Cleveland Cavaliers as a 3-point favorite with a total of 223. The Miami Heat play at home against the Detroit Pistons as an 8-point favorite with an over/under of 220.5. The Atlanta Hawks are home against the Washington Wizards as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 231.5. The Denver Nuggets travel to Toronto to play the Raptors as an 8-point road favorite with an over/under of 219.5. Two NBA games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Houston Rockets play in San Antonio against the Spurs as a 3-point road favorite with a total of 221. The Memphis Grizzlies host the Chicago Bulls as an 8-point favorite with an over/under of 234. The Dallas Mavericks play at home against the Utah Jazz at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 233. Two games conclude the NBA card at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Phoenix Suns are home against the Los Angeles Lakers as a 3-point favorite 44 with an over/under of 227. The Sacramento Kings host the Portland Trail Blazers as a 12.5-point favorite with a total of 228.The National Hockey League has eight games on its slate. Two NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Florida Panthers are in Buffalo to play against the Sabres as a -155 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Edmonton Oilers visit Columbus to play the Blue Jackets as a -250 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Two more NHL games begin at 7:37 p.m. ET. The Tampa Bay Lightning play at home against the Nashville Predators as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Winnipeg Jets are home against the Toronto Maple Leafs as a -120 money-line favorite with a total of 6. Two NHL games start at 9:07 p.m. ET. The Utah Hockey Club hosts the San Jose Sharks as a -258 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Colorado Avalanche play at home against the Chicago Blackhawks as a -238 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. Two more games complete the NHL card at 10:07 p.m. ET. The Carolina Hurricanes play in Vancouver against the Canucks as a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Vegas Golden Knights are home against the Calgary Flames as a -198 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NBA, NHL and EPL Previews and Odds - 10/27/2024

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Oct 27, 2024

The Sunday sports card features NFL, NBA, NHL, and EPL action. Week 8 in the NFL continues with 14 games. Eight NFL games kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET. The Cincinnati Bengals host the Philadelphia Eagles as a 2.5-point favorite with the total set at 47.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Miami Dolphins play at home against the Arizona Cardinals as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 46. The New York Jets travel to New England to play the Patriots as a 7-point road favorite with a total of 41. The Atlanta Falcons play in Tampa Bay against the Buccaneers as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 47.5. The Detroit Lions are home against the Tennessee Titans as an 11.5-point favorite with a total of 45. The Green Bay Packers play in Jacksonville against the Jaguars as a 4-point road favorite with an over/under of 49. The Houston Texans host the Indianapolis Colts as a 5-point favorite with a total of 45. The Baltimore Ravens are in Cleveland to play the Browns as an 8-point road favorite with an over/under of 45.5. Five NFL games start during the second window of afternoon games. Two NFL games start at 4:05 p.m. ET. The Buffalo Bills travel to Seattle to play the Seahawks as a 3-point road favorite with a total of 45.5. The Los Angeles Chargers play at home against the New Orleans Saints as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 41. The Chicago Bears play at Washington against the Commanders as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 44.5. Two more NFL games begin at 4:25 p.m. ET. The Denver Broncos host the Carolina Hurricanes as an 11-point favorite with an over/under of 41. The Kansas City Chiefs are in Las Vegas to play the Raiders as a 9.5-point road favorite with a total of 41. The San Francisco 49ers play at home against the Dallas Cowboys on NBC at 8:20 p.m. ET for Sunday Night Football. The 49ers are a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 47.The National Basketball Association has five games on its docket. The Indiana Pacers are home against the Philadelphia 76ers at 3:40 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 227. Two more NBA games tip off at 6:10 p.m. ET. The New Orleans Pelicans visit the Portland Trail Blazers as a 5.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 218.5. The Milwaukee Bucks play in Brooklyn against the Nets as a 9.5-point road favorite with a total of 229.5. The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Atlanta Hawks at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 232.5. The Golden State Warriors play at home against the Los Angeles Clippers at 8:40 p.m. ET. as a 10-point favorite with a total of 221.5. The National Hockey League has four games on its slate. The Edmonton Oilers are in Detroit to play the Red Wings at 6:07 p.m. ET as a -192 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Two NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Philadelphia Flyers are home against the Montreal Canadiens as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The New Jersey Devils host the Anaheim Ducks as a -340 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Colorado Avalanche play at home against the Ottawa Senators at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -175 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Matchweek 9 in the English Premier League concludes with four matches. Three EPL matches start at 10:00 a.m. ET. Chelsea are home against Newcastle United on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Tottenham visits Crystal Palace as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Manchester United plays at West Ham United as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 3.5. Arsenal is home against Liverpool at 12:30 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, MLB, NBA, NHL, CFL and EPL Previews and Odds - 10/26/2024

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Oct 26, 2024

The Saturday sports card features NCAAF, MLB, NBA, NHL, CFL, and EPL action.Week 9 in NCAAF college football continues with 47 games between FBS opponents. Thirteen of these NCAAF games kick off in the opening window between noon ET and 2:00 p.m. ET, with two games starting on major national television at noon ET. Notre Dame travels to Navy on ABC as a 13.5-point road favorite with the total set at 50.5 (all odds from DraftKings). Ohio State hosts Nebraska on Fox as a 25.5-point favorite with an over/under of 48.5. Nineteen NCAAF games between FBS opponents start in the 3:30 p.m. ET to 5:00 p.m. ET window. Four college football games on major national television at 3:30 p.m. Central Florida plays at home against BYU on ESPN as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 53.5. TCU is home against Texas Tech as a 6-point favorite with an over/under of 60. Alabama hosts Missouri on ABC as a 16-point favorite with a total of 51.5. Oregon plays at home against Illinois on CBS as a 21.5-point favorite with an over/under of 54.5. Fifteen NCAAF games between FBS opponents begin at 7:00 p.m. ET or later to complete the Saturday football card. Miami (FL) is home against Florida State on ESPN as a 21-point favorite with a total of 54.5. Two NCAAF games on major national television begin at 7:30 p.m. ET. Penn State plays at Wisconsin on NBC as a 6.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 47.5. Texas A&M hosts LSU on ABC as a 1-point favorite with a total of 54.5. Colorado plays at home against Cincinnati on ESPN at 10:15 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 57.Major League Baseball continues the best-of-seven World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers playing at home against the New York Yankees on Fox at 8:08 p.m. ET. The Dodgers took Game 1 of this series with their 6-3 victory in ten innings. They tap Yoshinbo Yamamoto to pitch against the Yankees’ Carlos Rodon. New York is a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The National Basketball Association has ten games on its docket. The Denver Nuggets are home against the Los Angeles Clippers at 5:10 p.m. ET as an 8-point favorite with an over/under of 220.5. The Miami Heat visit Charlotte to play the Hornets at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 4-point road favorite with a total of 221. Two more NBA games tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Cleveland Cavaliers play at Washington against the Wizards as a 9.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 229. The Boston Celtics are in Detroit to play the Pistons as a 14-point road favorite with a total of 227.5. Two NBA games start at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Timberwolves host the Toronto Raptors as a 13-point favorite with an over/under of 220.5. The Orlando Magic travel to Memphis to play the Grizzlies as a -1.5-point road favorite with a total of 221.5. The Oklahoma City Thunder play in Chicago against the Bulls at 8:10 p.m. ET as a 9-point road favorite with an over/under of 230.5. The Houston Rockets are in San Antonio to play the Spurs at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 2-point road favorite with a total of 231.5. The Dallas Mavericks are in Phoenix to play the Suns at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 2-point road favorite with an over/under of 231.5. The Los Angeles Lakers play at home against the Sacramento Kings at 10:30 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 234.5. The National Hockey League has 14 games on its slate. Two NHL games drop the puck at 1:10 p.m. ET. The Buffalo Sabres are home against the Detroit Red Wings as a -148 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Minnesota Wild travel to Philadelphia against the Flyers as a -142 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Los Angeles Kings host the Utah Hockey Club at 4:10 p.m. ET as a -148 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.Five NHL games begin at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Tampa Bay Lightning play at home against the Washington Capitals as a -166 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The New York Rangers are home against the Anaheim Ducks as a -310 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Toronto Maple Leafs play at Boston against the Bruins with both teams priced as a -110 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Winnipeg Jets are in Calgary to play the Flames as a -142 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The St. Louis Blues visit Montreal to play the Canadiens as a -125 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Florida Panthers play in New York against the Islanders at 7:40 p.m. ET as a -135 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. Two more NHL games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Nashville Predators host the Columbus Blue Jackets as a -250 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Dallas Stars play at home against the Chicago Blackhawks as a -375 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. Three games complete the NHL card at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Vegas Golden Knights are home against the San Jose Sharks as a -355 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Vancouver Canucks host the Pittsburgh Penguins as a -185 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Carolina Hurricanes are in Seattle to play the Kraken as a -162 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. Week 21 in the Canadian Football League concludes with two games. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers visit Montreal to play the Alouettes at 3:00 p.m. ET as a 7.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 46.5. The Saskatchewan Roughriders play at home against the Calgary Stampeders at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 4-point favorite with a total of 49.  Matchweek 9 in the English Premier League continues with five matches. Four matches begin at 10:10 a.m. ET. Aston Villa is home against Bournemouth on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Brentford hosts Ipswich Town as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Brighton and Hove Albion plays at home against Wolverhampton as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Manchester City is home against Southampton as a -2.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Fulham play at Everton on NBC at 12:30 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5.

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Vegas Writer's NHL Morning Skate

by Vegas Writer

Saturday, Oct 26, 2024

Saturday's edition of the "Morning Skate" recaps Friday's short slate that featured just four games and saw the home teams and their guests split out with two wins apiece.The New York Islanders and Nashville Predators won on the road, at New Jersey and Chicago, respectively, while the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights beat Pittsburgh and Ottawa, respectively.The Penguins were the only team that failed to score a goal on Friday.Let's take a look at the main highlights from Friday: Alex Pietrangelo had three assists and picked up his final one on the go-ahead goal by Keegan Kolesar after Tomas Hertl pulled Vegas even with 3:11 left in regulation. The Golden Knights earned a victory in regulation despite trailing in the final five minutes for just the second time in franchise history.Evan Bouchard, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Mattias Ekholm scored goals for Edmonton, which sprayed a season-high 50 shots against the Penguins.Connor Bedard's 24th career goal gave Chicago a 2-0 lead, but Gustav Nyquist, Filip Forsberg and Brady Skjei accounted for Nashville's three unanswered goals to give the Predators their first multi-goal comeback win of the season.Nico Hischier scored his eighth goal of the season to move into a tie for the league lead while Jesper Bratt scored a game-tying goal with 1:29 left in regulation for the Devils. In the end, however, it would be Bo Horvat scoring the overtime winner for the Islanders, who stymied the Jersey's comeback attempt. Through the first 17 nights:Favorites are 71-47, including a 46-28 run.Overs are 55-53-10.Tonight's FEATURED GAME (lines courtesy DraftKings):Toronto at Boston (-110, 6o, -112)William Nylander and the Maple Leafs reunite their chief nemesis, as they head into Beantown to face David Pastrnak and the Bruins. It'll make the first meeting since Game 7 of the 2024 playoffs, where Nylander scored a third-period goal before Pastrnak buried the clincher at 1:54 of overtime in the first round.Boston has earned victories in each of its last seven regular-season battles with Toronto, going back to Jan. 14, 2023, including three overtime wins.Toronto arrives after losing two in a row, including Thursday's 5-1 home loss to St. Louis. The Leafs have scored two or fewer goals in three of their last four games.Boston, meanwhile, has dropped its last three, including Thursday's 5-2 home loss to Dallas. Like the Leafs, the Bruins have been in search of offense, scoring just three goals during the three-game slide.PREDICTION: With both teams playing sluggish of late, and this rivalry being as heavy as it's been, another low-scoring game isn't out of the question. Eight of the last 10 meetings have stayed under, with the average final tally being 4.7 goals per game. If anything, this one stays under

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